Doral is a city located in north-central Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. An industrial and suburban mixed neighborhood of Miami, it lies north-west of Miami International Airport. It takes its name from the famous golf and spa resort located within its municipal boundaries. The Doral Golf Resort & Spa was originally built by Doris and Alfred Kaskel, who coined "Doral" by combining their names. The City of Doral was incorporated along with Miami Gardens in 2003. As of the 2000 census, the population was 20,438. According to 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 45,704 making it one of the fastest growing cities in Miami-Dade County, with a growth rate of 123.6%.[3] For a city of its size, Doral has a large number of shops, financial institutions and businesses, especially importers and exporters, primarily because of its proximity to the Miami International Airport. In 2008, Fortune Small Business and CNN Money ranked Doral as 51 on a list of 100 cities with the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal.[4]

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 20,438 people, 7,692 households, and 5,492 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,552.6 inhabitants per square mile (599.6/km2). There were 9,186 housing units at an average density of 697.8 per square mile (269.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.02% White (24% were Non-Hispanic White,)[7] 2.66% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 5.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.36% from other races, and 3.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 67.44% of the population.

Doral is the city with the highest percentage of Venezuelans in its population in the United States, at 20.6% Venezuelan.[8] Five percent of the population is Italian-American.[9]

There were 7,692 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% fron 18 to 24, 43.6% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,060, and the median income for a family was $57,193. Males had a median income of $46,324 versus $32,827 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,705. About 9.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, Doral had the highest percentage of Venezuelans residents in the US, with 8.22% of the populace (Weston was the second highest, with 4.10% of the populace.)[8] It had the thirty-third highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, at 15.20% of the city's population,[11] and the sixth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 8.71% of the its population.[12] It also had the tenth most Peruvians in the US, at 2.95%,[13] while it had the forty-eighth highest percentage of Dominicans, at 2.64% of all residents.[14] It had the thirteenth highest concentration of Brazilians, with 2.50% of the city (tied with Newark, NJ and Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.)[15] Doral's Nicaraguan community had the twenty-sixth highest percentage of residents, which comprised 1.69% of the population.[16] It is also home to the fifty-first highest percentage of Ecuadorian residents, which made up 1.18% of the population.[17]

Economy

In 2005 Doral had over 10,000 businesses. During that year Carnival Cruise Lines, Ryder, and Univision had operations in Doral. For years leading into 2005, Doral attracted businesses of various sizes.[18]

The Doral Chamber of Commerce is the official chamber for the City of Doral.[35]

Before Doral was incorporated, the second (1996–1998) Pan American World Airways had its headquarters in Doral.[36] At one time Ryder had its headquarters in Doral.[37] In 2002 Ryder announced that it would move its headquarters to a new site in Miami-Dade County.[38]

Top employers

According to Doral's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[39] the top employers in the city are:

Government and infrastructure

Local government

The Doral Police Department was started on June 2, 2008,[40] with 93 officers to service the growing Doral area.[41] Previously, the Miami-Dade Police Department would service the area with a sticker on the side of the car showing the Doral logo. From its inception, the new police service has started a routine of parking at busy intersections or roadsides in an effort to catch speeders, thus forcing the entire city to slow down its speed on its once fast streets.[citation needed]

Transportation

Although Miami-Dade County Transportation does service the Doral area, it does not service inner Doral. Therefore, in February 2008, the City of Doral began a pilot program for a new form of transportation for residents, the Doral Trolley. With stops all over the city, the trolley runs all the way from Ronald W. Reagan/Doral Senior High School to the city limit at NW 87 Ave. It services all Doral area public schools (with the exception of Doral Academy Charter High School) and many businesses and retail locations in the city.

Media

The City of Doral, Fla. is served by the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market for local radio and television. Doral has its own local map, Discover Doral City Map, published quarterly since 2005 and distributed in all the shopping centers, hotel lobby, car rental, and visitor information centers. Two big media outlets have their headquarters in Doral: Univision Network and Channel 4 CBS. Several studios and other TV operations work out from Doral. In addition, the Telemundo chain has a presence in the City of Doral, with one of its main office and production units located there.

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Public libraries

The Miami-Dade Public Library System operates the Doral Branch, which had re-opened on July 5, 2003 after an expansion, in the Doral Isles Shopping Center.[50] In addition the system operates the 7,500 square feet (700 m2) International Mall Branch in Doral. The library was the second to be built after the opening of the Main Library in 1985.[51]